Friends, family living in ideal areas

[shootingstar]

My sister and her family lived in Norway for six months this year, so of course I took the opportunity to visit them! What I didn't understand was that my sister and I were the ONLY family members to do that. My parents, other sister, and Norway-sister's husband's whole family stayed firmly planted in the US. When else are they going to have the opportunity to go to Norway with a free place to stay?

Sarah

It is a shame sfa. For some people it's a huge psychological effort (and at times, cost and timing) to even plan a trip outside of North America, heck for some, even outside their own state/province. There are still some siblings who haven't visited me yet here. Will take time.

I actually have whole slew of relatives in San Francisco and these are aunts, uncles and cousins of the first order, not 2nd,3rd order. Heck, even a first cousin my age who was born a month later than I. Didn't even know until my late 20's when meeting her. But not close enough for me to phone any Frisco relative out there for even a coffee and pastry together. (no, not dim sum. Geez, coming from Vancouver....!)

One of the main reasons I've chosen so far not to visit Germany at that time when dearie was seeing relatives there, was to avoid the same situation as Catriona in Belgium. Freeze-outs due to lack of local linguisitic fluency. I know full well this living reality since my Chinese fluency has seriously eroded.

However we have entertained some German relatives since relocating here and now, I know which relatives we would be comfortable to drop by...for an "exchange" goodwill and happy visit.